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THE HISTORY OF CANANDA1GUA. 



«-/ 



AN 



ADDRESS 



DELIVERED AT THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



J-uLLy- 4= 3 1876. 



BY J. ALBERT GRANGER, Esq. 



CANANDAIGUA, N. Y. 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE ONTARIO REPOSITORY AND MESSENGER. 

1876. 



Canandaigua, July 6th, 1876. 
Mr. J. Albert Granger: 

Sir: The wish has been expressed by very many of our citizens, that you would 
prepare and furnish for publication in pamphlet form, the Address which you deliv- 
ered at our Centennial anniversary, making such corrections and additions to it as 
you may deem necessary and of interest to the inhabitants of this old and cherished 
spot — " Canandarque." 

TIIOS S. BEALS. 
M. H. CLARK, 
H. F. BENNETT, 
and others. 



t'.WAXD.Uu'jA, July 9th, 1876. 

Tho's S. Beals, Hon. M. H. Clark, II. P. Bennett, 

and others. 
Gentlemen: I am in the receipt of yours of the 6th hist, In reply 1 would say 
that the manuscript is at your service for such disposition as you may see fit to make 
of it. I refrain from making any important additions to it, save the correction of 
some errors which its hasty preparation rendered unavoidable, adding in its publica- 
tion only that portion which the brief space allotted to its reading compelled me to 
omit, The field is so broad, and the materials so abundant, while my recorded facts 
are so scanty, that I would not feel justified in letting it go out as a History at ail, 
were it not that those interested in the subject — and there must be many — are to lie 
so soon supplied by a " History of the County," collated and prepared by abler 
hands than mine. 

Yours very truly. 

.1. ALBERT GRANGER. 






HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 

BY J. ALBERT GRANGER, Esq. 
'Read at tne Centennial Celebration, July &, ?876\ 



It \v;is only an ox carl — rough andstrong; achieved for themselves a more remarkable 
It was only a May day in 1789; It was only civil organization, and acquired a greater 
home they were leaving, and it was only fame than any others. During the time 
Israel Chapin, Daniel Gates, Frederick of European colonization they stood for 
Saxton and a few others, whose figures nearly two centuries, unharmed, against 
were fading in the forest, but all there was all the blighting effects of war, foreign in- 
of Canandaigua was then being jolted into tercourse and the still more fatal encroach- 
the wilderness. There was, and had been ments of an advancing border population, 
for several centuries, a Canandaigua— Gan- and when they did yield, it was only to 
undagwa then, a flourishing, populous In- the blandishments of peace and peaceful 
dian village, the second principal town of arts. 

the Six Nations ; but our Canandaigua, our At the time of the Dutch discovery in 
"Chosen Spot" was only now in swad- 1609, the Iroquois were in possession of 
dling clothes, and lifted up her voice in the the same territories which General Chapin 
wilderness as she was rudely and yet ten- found them holding nearly two hundred 
derly borne through the forest, where the years later. Their government had stood 
rustle of the leaf and the crackle of the unshaken all that time, and they had so 
brush told other tales than those prospered in all the march of Indian ad- 
the breezes bore, to be laid and nourished, vancement that they ruled supreme; were 
reared, guarded and defended, not only be respected and feared from the British pos- 
side, but from the council fires of the Sen- sessions to the Gulf, and carried their war 
ecas. pa.ities from the coast beyond the Missis- 

These men were hersponsors — Templars, sippi. Originally there were but five na- 
valiantly pledging their lives iu her de- tions in their Confederacy — the Mohawks, 
fence. Reaching Schenactady they went the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, 
out from under the then last roof into an and the Senecas— but a band of Tuscaroras 
unbroken wilderness. Boating their way emigrated from the South and were adopt- 
along the Mohawk; around the leaping ed into their League, making the sixth.— 
cataract at Little Falls; across our inland Their government was representative and 
lakes; up small rivers and smaller creeks, elective. Their League was established on 
and out upon our own lake, they landed, the principle of Family Relationship, con- 
after weeks of toil and hardship, at the stituting, as the word Iroquois signifies, 
foot of what is now Main-street, and put one Long House; each nation being one 
their infant child in bed— a " Sleeping fire under the same roof. The nations 
Beauty " in a " Chosen Spot." bore the same relation to the League which 

The Six Nations, as a people, in this lat- our States do to the Union. They had one 
ter day, are but little known to us. Cer- supreme Sachem. Each nation, according 
tainly neither they, nor their government to its numbers, furnished four, six, and 
are appreciated, if known at all. Except- eight others, which title and office were 
ihg the Indians of Mexico and Peru, the hereditary. 
Iroquois— as the six nations were called— After these came a larger number of 



4 HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. July 4. 

chiefs who were yearly elected, and after The fort was built by the Spaniards as a 
these the war chiefs. We see in this our defence against the Indians, intending. 
President, Senators and Representatives, had gold been found, to make it a perma- 
as well as army. But they had another net garrison for present occupancy and 
bond of union which bound them more future operations. 

closely together than anything we can During the Revolutionary war, the Six 
boast. When a people have long remain- Nations were, as a League, neutral; but 
ed in a tribal state, it becomes difficult to very many, and some of them their most 
remove the clannish traces which grow so powerful chiefs, took up the hatchet in fa- 
strong with years ; among the Greeks this vor of the mother country and showed 
never wholly disappeared. The Iroquois, their zeal by massacres whose stories thrill 
while they rested the League itself upon us yet. Indeed so much inflamed had all 
the nations, sought to interweave the race their passions become by the deeds of some 
into one political family. Each nation, of their number, that they all became 
therefore, was divided into six tribes, more than troublesome to the general gov- 
which were named after some animal ; one eminent, and it was necessary to strike a 
of these tribes was sent to live with one of blow at them which should effectually 
each of the other nations, retaining only hold them in restraint. By an act of Con- 
one-sixth of their original nation, but re- gress in 1778, Gen. Washington was au- 
ceiving in turn from each of the others a thorized to dispatch an army into this re- 
tribe from it corresponding in name to that gion. On the 22d of August, 1779, Gen. 
tribe of their own nation already retained. Sullivan formed a junction with Gen. .las. 

The Seneca nation, as an example, hav- Clinton, and with an army of 5,000, took 
ing sent off to other nations those of their the forest for the lodges of the Senecas. 
own number, according as they were of The Indians were 1,600 strong, but more 
the "Deer," "Turtle," or other tribe, re- than counterbalanced the disparity of num- 
ceived from each of the others those who bers by their knowledge of the country 
were of the "Wolf" tribe, and so, keep- and the advantages the forest gave them 
ing their number full, all being of one in their manner of fighting. The first 
tribe, but only one-sixth of them Senecas, stand was made at Newtown, now Elrnira, 
had within themselves a sure preventive of but, although the Indians were under 
internal dissensions. Brant, and the Hangers under Butler, they 

How long Canandaigua had been the were easily driven from their defences. — 
principal town of the Senecas, it is impos- Sullivan followed up his advantage and 
sible to say. The village of Victor was drove them straight before him. Down 
burned by the French in 1687, and at that the east shore of our lake; across its foot, 
time this place had long been the larg- humanely regardless of the squaws and 
est of all the Indian villages. children, who, for safe keeping were hid 

At the eastern terminus of Gibson-street, den on the island; straight through to 
within but a few rods of where to-day we Conesus lake, burning all the lodges and 
have trod, there stand the remains of an corn fields of the savages, came the army, 
old fort, the voiceless witness of a time we and rested only when it had fully dispers- 
know nothing of. A legend of the Sene- ed their foe, leaving them with famine 
cas, according to an address of DeWitt staring them in the face. So severe a les- 
Clinton delivered in 1811, in the city of son disheartened the natives. Their homes 
New York, attributes it to a Spanish ar- and fields were gone. The old places were 
my, who were the first Europeans seen by never to be to them what they had been 
them; the French next; then the Dutch, before; and while they made peace with 
and finally the English. This army, says the white man, there was enmity in their 
the legend, landed at Oswego in search of hearts. They were wholly restless, going 
gold, penetrated this western country and off in bands, and leaving the ashes of their 
returned to the South by way of the Ohio, village here to be for ever scattered. 



1876. HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 5 

Peace had not done for them what it through Seneca Lake to Lake Ontario, re- 
was to do, and they stubbornly refused to serving only a strip of land along the Nia 
yield up any of their old time customs. — gara River one mile wide. This tract con- 
Buildtng new lodges away from the old, taiued some six millions of acres, and in 
they prepared to return to that life which 1788 was contracted by the State of Massa- 
the events of the Revolution had interrupt- chusetts to Nathaniel Gorham of Charles- 
ed. It was just at this point then, where town, and Oliver Phelps of Granville, in 
faded these olden memories and budded that State, for the sum of one million dol- 
new hopes; when civilization commenced lars. In Juhy of the same year these gen- 
to swiuo- wide of barbarism; when these tlemen purchased the Indian title to some 
Six Nations, from the Mohawk to the Sen 2,000,000 acres, bounded west by a point 
ecas, were filled with burning hatred of in the north line of Pennsylvania, due 
the whites, jealous of their encroachments south of a point of land made by the con- 
and doubly watchful of their hunting fluence of Canasaraga Creek and Genesee 
^rounds, that our infant Canandaigua River; thence north to the corner or point 
awakened from her first sleep here, and at such confluence : thence northwardly a- 
cried out, " Peace on earth, good will to long the waters of the River to a point two 
man." miles north of Canewagus village; thence 

In the year 1620, James I., King of Great due west twelve miles; thence northwardly 
Britain, granted to the Plymouth Company so as to be twelve miles distant from the 
a tract of land called New England, extend- western boundaries of the river to the shore 
ing several degrees of latitude north and of Lake Ontario, leaving the eastern boun- 
south, andreaching from theto Atlanticthe daries as originally iixed. This tract, and 
Pacific coast. Charlesl., some twenty years this only, is the Phelps and Gorham pur- 
later, granted to the Duke of York and Al- chase. 

bany, the Province of New York, then in- Canandaigua now commenced to grow, 
eluding New Jersey. This tract extended She could nearly stand alone. In the sum- 
froni a line twenty miles east of the Hudson mer of 1789 Augustus Porter came on as 
River westward rather indefinitely, and from surveyor with Hugh Maxwell, and found 
the Atlantic Ocean north to the south line of four houses already erected, one being near 
Canada, then a French Proviuce. From the old outlet at the Lake; another on what 
this collision of description each of the is now the site of the First National Bank; 
colonies laid claim to the jurisdiction, as a third in the corner of the Phelps lot near 
well as the pre-emption right of the same the square; and one further up Main-st.— 
land, but in the year 1781, New York, and In 1790, the first census was taken. That 
in 1785 Massachusetts ceded to the United of the county was 1081— of the town 106— 
States all the territory lying west of a me- embraced in eighteen families. Settlers 
ridian line run south from the westerly steadily came in. The Genesee country 
bend of Lake Ontario. There were then prospered beyond precedent in spite of the 
left 19,000 square miles of disputed terri- difficulties of getting here, the fevers inci- 
tory, but on the 16th day of December, dent to a new country and the hostile In- 
1786, this dispute was settled by a Board dians. This prosperity was much increas- 
of Commissioners convened at Hartford, ed subsequently by the Pickering Treaty 
Connecticut, by the stipulations of which with the Indians, which was made in 1794, 
Massachusetts ceded to New York all her by which through concessions on the part 
claims to the territory lying west of the of the United States, as well as the Indians, 
east line of the State of New York, and, a better feeling was maintained and friend- 
in turn, New York ceded to Massachusetts liness more universal. The first name we 
the fee of the land, subject to the title of find for all New York west of Albany was 
the natives, of all that part lying west of a that bestowed by the Dutch in 1638:— " Ter- 
line beginning at a fixed point in the north to Incognita"— The Unknown Land. It 
line of Pennsylvania, running due north was next called Albany county. In 1772, 



6 HISTORY OF CANANDAIGFA. July 4, 

Tryon county, named after the then Eng- jury trial. A Grand Jury was empannel- 

lish Governor, was set off, embracing all of ed and one indictment found. The next 

the territory west of a line that would pass session of the Court was in June, '95, Peter 

through the centre of Schoharie county. B. Porter, Nathaniel W. Howell, Stephen 

After the Revolution this name was chang- Ross, and Thomas Munneford were admit- 

ed to Montgomery. In 1788 all west of ted to practice. The first jury trial west of 

Utica was called Whitestown. The first Herkimer county was held at this Court, 

town meeting ever held in the then Mont- the case being the trial of an indictment 

gomery county, was held in the barn of for stealing a cow bell. John Wickham 

Capt. Daniel White, in April, 1789, Jede- was District Attorney, but the prosecution 

diah Sanger being elected Supervisor. In was conducted by N. W. Howell; the de- 

1791, James Wadsworth was elected the fence by Vincent Mathews and Peter B. 

first Path Master west of Cayuga Lake. — Porter. 

It could have been little more than the su- Gen [srae] n ,. iriiri first n . 1)resente( i this 
pervision of the Indian trails, but the warn- D istri ct in the Legislature, and Robert 
ing out to work the roads must have been Morris first in Congress. Luther Cole car- 
something of a task. In these elections ried the mail in his pocket from liere to 
the polls were opened at Cayuga Ferry, Whitestown; Phiueas Bates took the same 
adjourned to Onondaga and closed at west to Fort j>yT iagani The nrst birtll was 
Whitestown! Herkimer county was taken that of , iver Phe i ps Rice . the first death 
off Montgomery in '91, and embraced all tbat of Caleb Walker: Both occurred in 
west of the lines of that county. 17u0 The firgt stQre wag opened by Sanl . 

As the foot of our lake was a central uel Gardner; the first school taught by 
spot, Mr. Phelps determined to make it Major Wallis in '92. The first religious 
the centre of future operations, and accord- service held here was the Episcopal Burial 
ingly a store-house was erected. The next Service, read at Walker's funeral. How- 
step was to make roads; men were there- evei '> in this same y ear > thl ' record tells us 
fore employed who underbrushed and regular meetings were held in Mr. Pheips 
cleared out a road from here to Geneva.— burn, services being read by John Call;— 
Then a wagon road to Manchester was cut ringing by Mr. Sanborn. Prayers were o- 
through. People could now move in more fitted as there was no one to make them. 
easily, and in the fall of '92 there were tkir- The nrs1 wn eat was raised on a farm 
tv families here, Venison in the woods and trough w hich Gibson street now runs, by 
Bsh in the lake were plenty; black-ber- Abner Barlow, and taken by him to Utica 
lies, rasp-berries, wild plums and crab to mill. Dr. Williams sell led as physician 
apples were to be had in their season.— bere in '98; William Antis came through 
The first currants served were by Mrs. from Penn - and set U P :l g un sho P. which 
Sanborn, at a Tea Party in '94, and the e- at tnat time was fl^te as needful as stated 
vent was marked as an era in the history preaching. Some trade for furs sprang up. 
of the town. In this same year Ananias Explorers and traders of all nations pene- 
Miller built a mill at Mud Creek. In '95 trated to th e settlement; and in their trad- 
the sale of several slaves is noted. ing, not only with the settlers, but with 

the Indians, there had grown the need of 

The Court of Common Pleas and Grand ;m organization of the town . T he follow- 
Sessions was held at the house of Nathan- | is(lil ,. rllv from the flrst record: 
lei Sanborn, in November, '94, Timothy 

Hosmer and Charles Williamson being pre- " Canandarquay Records —1791. 

siding Judges; Enos Boughton associate At a Town .Meeting held at Canandar- 
or side Justice. The Attorneys were quay in the County of Ontario, on the flrst 
Thomas .Morris, John Wickham, James Tuesday in April, 1791, the meeting being 
Wadsworth, and Vincent Mathews. There opened and superintended by Gen. Israel 
were some suits on the calendar, but no Chapin, these several persons were elected 



1856, HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 7 

into office:— Israel Chapin, Supervisor, and Moses Atwater, William A. Williams 

James D. Fish, Town Clerk. and Joel Prescott. In '99, diplomas of 

Assessors— John Call, Enos Boughton, Johu Ra 3 r > Samuel Dungan, David Fair- 

Seth Reed, Nathan Comstock, James Aus- child and Arnold Willis are recorded.— 

tin, Arnold Potter, Nathaniel Justin. Thomas Cloudesley is made Deputy Clerk 

Assessors-Phineus Bates, John Cod- in this 3™r : in 1801, Augustus Porter is 

,. o , made Deputy; in 180-1, Sylvester Tiffany 

-Overseers of Poor-Israel Chapin, Na- as County Clerk, makes Dudley Saltonstall 

thaniel Gorham Deputy; Thomas Morris appoints John 

Commissioners of Highways-Othniel Gr ^ Ms lawful attorney; Phiheas Bates 

Taylor, Joseph Smith, Benjamin Wells. tls Sher f 1S succeeded by James K. Guern- 

Constables-Nathaniel Sanborn, Jared **; *? 1808 / i bte l )hen BaLes > as Sheriff . 
D .. T,. . d:„„„» makes Nathaniel Allen Deputy; In lsio, 

Boughton, Phmeas Pierce. ,_ TT „ . ■, , , . J 

Myron Hollj r is clerk, and a village library 

Overseers of Highways and Fence View- isst:|rted; in lgll> Jam .. R Mower is 

ers-James Latta, Joshua Whitney, John 01erk> and DanM D Baxaaxd D t 
Swift, Daniel Gates, Jabez French, Gama- ghortly after the organization of th( . 
liel Wilder, Abner Barlow, Isaac Hathway, towa> th& question of education became an 
Hezekiah Boughton, Eber Norton, William important one; therefore, on the 28th day 
Gooding, John D. Robinson. Moses At- (jf j anuaiy> 1791> Nathaniel Gorham and 
water was Justice of the Peace, and ad- ()Uver phelpg haying by deed couveyed 
ministered the oath to Supervisor Chapin : Q>m af . res of laud in ^ County of Qnta 
Voted that all swine at two years old and rio .< to establish and support aQ Academy 
upwards, shall be yoked with good and or Sem inary of learning, on the 12th of 
sufficient yokes. Also voted, that Thirty February> i 795j the Canandaigua Academy 
Shillings be paid for each wolf scalp was incorporat ed. «. A subscription was 
brought into the settlement. Ear marks uccordiugly opeued for the aew Academy, 
for swine are carefully noted in the old wWch paper bearg the Qames of foriy per . 
book, and I take personal pride in record- SQns The i ist was hea ded by Oliver Phelps 
ing the fact that both Elijah and Eliliu who subscribed 6<000 acres of land. 4.000 
Granger slit the left ear instead of the right, for himself and 3)00 for his friend. Mr. 
showing thereby great confidence in each Gorham . Arnold Potter subscribed 200 
other, and unanimity in the family. Gen. acres of , aud; Nathaniel Gorham 100 
Chapin was Supervisor until '95, when he poundS) Charles Williamson 500 pounds, 
was succeeded by Abner Barlow. In 1708 Thomas Morris the lega] mteres , on , 000 
a large party of emigrants arrived and set- pounds> Joseph Hill m>m> &c> making 
tied close at hand. It consisted of the the wbole am0lmt subscribed 0,800 acres 
families of Benjamin Barney, Richard Da- of land> 800 p undsy the legal interest on 
ker and Vincent Grant, coming from Or- i )30 pounds, $860,00 of currency. Con- 
ange county, with six or seven teams, and vert i ng the iand into money at 20 cents per 
quite a retinue of foot attendants. They acre> t he price then, the subscriptions a- 
were twenty-six days on the road, and prac- mounted to something near $6,000. " 
t iced a species of traveling economy which TJie arst building, then simply a ground 
was a novelty even in the devices of pio- floor; the second story being entirely unlin- 
neer times. The milk of their cows was ished; was crec ted, and since that time, 
put into chums in their wagons, and the under Dudley Saltonstall, lehabod Spen- 
ups and downs of the road did the churn- cer> Thomas Beals, Henry Howe and oth 
ln £' ers, the Academy lias prospered equal in 

From a book of miscellaneous records in the rank of smaller colleges, sending out 
'97, we find that Peter B. Porter, as Coun- yearly into the sterner walks of life those 
ty Clerk, records the medical diplomas of who remember the institution in recalling 
Daniel Goodwin, Ralph Wilcox, Jeremiah their happiest days. 



8 HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. July 4 

At a Town Meeting held in '98, it was vo- '90, and situated where Atwater Hall now 
ted that a good and sufficient Pound be stands. A part of it now exists, being 
erected at the north east corner of the moved to Gorham-street. Mr. Sanborn 
Square; also that $500 be raised by tax to also before 1800, built on the lot known as 
defray the expenses of the District. the Sibley place, now owned by Mr, Wil- 

Starting from the square, roads were laid cox. There was also a Dudley tavern on 
out, Main street first; then East ond West Main-st., nearly at the lake, which was 
streets; then the one through the Square, one of the oldest. Another, kept by a 
it being on the Indian trail to Buffalo. Mr. Doty, being the frame house opposite 

It is curious to follow on the old maps the foundry, and the old barracks. The 
the Indian trails which show how ready high grade of the two houses next south 
was the knowledge the Indians possessed of the foundry is made by the earthen 
of the easiest and best way to get from one wall around these barracks. Freeman At- 
point to another; and it is a singular fact water kept a noted tavern, being the same 
that the track of the N. Y. Central Rail- building now known as the Ontario House, 
way, and all its branches, follow almost Church's tavern on Main street was also 
without divergence the Indian trails from built prior to 1800. Bates' tavern, kept 
Albany to Buffalo. by Phineas P. Bates, on the spot where 

The first church organization in this Mr. Perry's nurseries now are, was contin- 
place was that of St. Matthews, established ued as such from before 1800 until about 
in February, '99. A meeting was called at 1820, and was the fashionable hotel and 
the house of Nathaniel Sanborn; Ezra boarding house of the village all that time. 
Piatt was called to the chair, and the fol- Blossom's Hotel was built about 1814, by 
lowing officers elected: Ezra Piatt and Belah D.Coe, and kept first by one Mills, 
Joseph Colt, wardens; John Clark, Au- and then by Coe, until it passed into the 
gustus Porter, John Hecox, Nathaniel hands of Col. William Blossom, and under 
Sanborn, Benjamin Wells, James Field, him was noted for good cheer all over the 
Moses Atwater and Aaron Flint, Vestry- country. This hotel was burned on the 
men. The Rev. Philander Chase, after- 2.xl December, 1851. 

ward Bishop, then in deacon's orders, off! In February, 1852, John Greig, Francis 
dated as Rector for several years. As St. Granger, Henry B. Gibson, John A. Gran- 
Johns Church in after years, it was under ger, Mark i.1. feibley, Leander M. Drury, 
the ministry of Rev. Henry Onderdoak. and Gideon Granger, entered into an ar- 

The First Congregational Church was rangement with Thomas Beals and John 
organized in February of the same year; Benham, the owners of the land, to erect a 
Rev. Timothy Field pastor; Othniel Tay- new hotel. These latter gentlemen put in 
lor, Thaddeus Chapin, Dudley Saltonstall, the land at $7,000, and the former subscri- 
Seth Holcomb, Abuer Barlow and Phineas bed the sum of .$20,000. This falling far 
Bates, trustees. short of the amount found necessary, they 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was increased their subscriptions to $48,000 — 
erected some years after on Chapel-street, making the cost of the building and 
and mauy years ago moved to the spot it grounds $55,000. A further subscription 
now occupies. of $15,000 was made by John Greig, H. 

Having the various organizations, both B. Gibson, and Francis Granger for furni- 
civil and religious, which would tend ture; and in the summer of 1853, the Can- 
to strengthen the growth of the village, andaigua Hotel was opened once more, un- 
numerous visitors, travelers and prospec- der John Thomas, landlord, 
tive settlers were constantly arriving, which The first jail was a log house standing- 
made places of public entertainment nee- Justin front of what is now Tony's coal 
essary, Taverns they were called, and did yard. About 1800, a more substantial jail 
a thriving business. The first undoubtedly was built on the ground now covered by 
was thai of Mr. Sanborn, built, at or before the Webster House, and as a hotel and jail 



1876. HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 9 

in one was kept by Elijah Tillotson as held in the back room during the time the 
landlord and sheriff. This was succeeded Academy was being repaired in 1836, and 
by the new and present jail in 1815. for many years Willson and Lester had 

The old jail was thereafter used as a tav their office in the south front. Mr. Beals 
ern until that and the adjoining property paid $100 for the building, being determin- 
was bought by Thomas Beals, who in ed, to use his own words, "to preserve it 
1827-8 built what was known as the Frank- in its integrity— codfish and all." 
lin House. This house was burned in About this time there were two small 
1860, and the Webster House immediately brick buildings standing just south of At- 
erected. water Hall — one a Surrogate's, the other 

„ „ ., , T ., the County Clerk's office. These were sold 

Of stores, there were several. Luther J 

., . , , , . . >. by Charles Coy, supervisor, at the same 

Cole kept a large crockery store in the / , . , n -r. ., i. 

, , .. , . .',, . ^ • , time as the sale or the Star Building, to 
house owned by the late Albert Daniels, . , 

,, . rp, r , , , n Joshua Tracy, for $200, and the material 

on Main-street. The Gorham house, on ,.,.,,. , m ™ 

£ „ , -, ,. . . used in building the 1 racy Block, 

the corner of Gorham and Main-sts., was ■ ° 

. ... , , n . ,. A Of the houses which stand as they stood 

built as a store and dwelling combined, . • 

,,..,.. . , , TT , in 1800, there are but few left. The old 

the north half being occupied by Lncler- „ . _ . 

, .„ „ c , , , Chapin House on Coy-street, is almost cut 

hill & Seymour for a number of years. * J . 

off from its ancient lights by new dwell- 

John A. Stevens had a printing office at ings and gtoreg . the Cleveland house on 
the corner of Chapel street, and just be- Chapel . stre et; the Jackson house on Main, 
low Caleb Putnam had a large leather buiU firgt for a tavern; the bouge now 
store. Thomas Beals built and kept a dry Qwned T R StarkSj algo bum for & 
goods store on the spot where he continued tavem and the Antig houge QQ Bristol _ 
business during his life as a merchant, ^^ gtand almogt alone amQng ug as 
and from the year 1882, as a banker. He ^^ of ^ ^ centmy 
died in 1864, and was succeeded in busi- Thc ^^ nQW Qwned by R Q Ty](jr 
uess and in the ownership of the property wag thfl firgt regidence of John Greig> and 
by his son Thomas S. Beals. stood immediately fa front of Mg present 

Ebenezer Hale had his si ore just north mans i on; was moved about the year 1835 
of Bristol street. Abijah Peters was the to Gibson street . and f or a num ber of years 
first tailor. Henry Howard had a store just was the Episcopal Rectory. The house of 
south of where the Methodist church now Judge Taylor was built at an early day by 
stands, and was afterwards burned out.— Thomas Morris, and was at one time occu- 
A Scotchman by the name of Grant had a pied by Louis Philippe. The John Mosher 
flourishing brewery east of the bridge at houge wag built and occupied by Myron 
the lake; and an old Indian house, stand- jjolley. A. D. Paul's house on Main-st., 
ing where Mrs. McCormick's ice houses was the first brick building erected in this 
now are, was for years, and especially du- vi]lage and was built by j ames Sibley 
ring the war of 1812, a thriving bakery. Early in Jan . y> 1796, Charles William- 

The building known as the " Star Build- son had obtained from Pennsylvania, a 
ing" was built in 1794, the timber being second-hand newspaper office, and, under 
scored by Capt. Hickox. It stood on the the editorship of William Kersey and 
east side of the Square, where it remained James Edie, commenced the issue of the 
as the Court House until the building of Bath Gazette and Genesee Advertiser.— 
the brick Court House, which we now use This was the first newspaper in western 
as the Town House, when it was moved New York. In the same year he induced 
across the street, and was used as Post Of- one Lucius Carey to establish a paper in 
fice and Town Hall until about 1859, when Geneva, called the Ontario Gazette and 
it was bought by Thomas Beals, cut in two Genesee Advertiser. The paper was con 
and moved to the place it now occupies.— tinued about eighteen months in Geneva, 
The school sessions of the Academy were and was then removed to Canandaigua and 



10 HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. July 4, 

continued its issue until 1802, when it was The Ontario Bank was organized in 18- 
sold fco Nathaniel W. Howell. In 1803, 13, under Nathaniel Gorham, President. 
Mr. Carey was succeeded in the editorship and William Kibbe, Cashier, which. under 
by James K. Could & Russel E. Post, and Mr. Kibbe and then for yens under the 
the paper was called the " Western Repos management of Henry B. Gibson, was a 
itory." In 1804, this partnership was dis- power throughout the State. The Utica 
solved by the retiring of Mr. Post, who Branch Bank was afterwards established, 
was succeeded by James D. Bemis. Mr. and continued in successful business un- 
Gould died in 1808, and under Mr. Bemis der Win. B. Welles and H. K. Sanger for 
the paper, then called the Ontario Reposi- a number of years. Ebenezer Hale got 
tory, was issued without interruption for the first discount given at the Ontario 
twenty-one years. Mr. Bemis was followed Bank, the money being used in the build- 
by Chauncey Morse and Samuel Ward. — ing of the house lately taken down to make 
This paper is still regularly published, be- room for the Congregational chapel. 
ing the oldest paper, living, in western n the 30th of April 1830, the Ontario 
New York. Savings Bank was incorporated, N. W. 

In 1803, Sylvester Tiffany established in Howell, II. F. Penfield, John Greig, Jared 
this village the Ontario Freeman. John A. Willson, Wm. B. Welles, John C. Spencer. 
Stevens was the successor of Mr. Tiffany, Oliver Phelps. Phineas P. Bates and Wal- 
and in 1806 commenced the publication of tgr Hubbell corporators. Two years later. 
the Ontario Messenger, which continued a Thomas Beals became Treasurer, and un- 
most prosperous career until 1862, when it f ] , r h ; s judicious oversight the bank pros- 
was consolidated with the Repository, pere( j and grew uutil l855j when it was 
by the present editor and publisher. WO und up, and Mr. Beals continued the 
since which time the Repository & Me- banking business in a private capacity un- 
senger, together with the "Ontario Conn- til his death in 1864. We all know and 
ty Times " established in 1853, and the f ee ] tne substantial good our village has 
"Ontario County Journal" first published rece i ve d from the success of these men. 
some two years since, weekly lay before 

ii »i •*. t +■ „+ ;„ tu„ ,.,.,"i „r^..i,i lu 1825 the Ontario Female Seminary 

us all the items of tact in the real world ■ J 

-. ,.,, „ ,. t . . .. v . , commenced its career of usefulness, which 

and many of those of fiction m the political, . 

,. ., , t ., . continued without interruption lor nearly 

according as the good of the country re- . _ TT - , i: 

tilty years. Io Hannah I pham belongs 
quires. , ,. , . , , , , ,'. 

,„ . , the tame whien so long attended this 

We were now growing stronger, and , ?,-,,■, 

. A . ,.. . , ' , , 01A school. Her memorv today dwells pleas- 

the population steadily increased. In 1810 , . , • ' . 

-i i-o t .onn •. .,•.,> i .oon antly in countless homes. Coming to this 

it was l,lo3; In 1800 it was 4,680; In 1830 , * , ,. . . , & , 

- ,,., t io(,. •* tr i—n t io-a place so long ago, living with us here so 

it was 0,162; In 1840 it was 5,bo2; In 1850 ' ,.,,,-,.,,, 

,,,,., T iann ■<. 1 n nnn many years, which she so tail lit u ! lv devot - 

it was 6,143; In I860 it was nearly 7,000, , , , . ,. , . . 

,. ..,, . . t „ ,. t , .. ed to the education of Christian women, she 

and in 1875, in spite of all the ravages oi . . 

„ nnn passed the evening OI her days nitheouiel 

war, it was ,.,99. ' , , ,-,',,, 

T . tl ,. 10 .,. t , oi I he home her own industry had earned. 

Just previous to the war of 1812, the 
.,, , . , , ..^ i j • r and when night came she closed the door 

Mate Arsenal was built, on land given for • . 

... i at . , . ' , ,,,„. on earth and rested, tor her " lips were 

that purpose by Moses At water; 1,000 j; 

, c iii- iof\o touched with the live coal Irom oil the al 

stand oi arms were ordered here in 1808, 

, , ,, ,i •,, tar." and her peace was won. 

and when the war came there was a will ' ' 

ing hand for every musket. With the growth of the village, travel 

In 1815 the village was incorporated and had become very brisk; throng]) stage 

placed under the control of a Board of routes had been established from Albany 

Trustees, consisting of N. YV. Howell, to Buffalo, and coaches came and went 

President; .1 ames Smedley, Thaddeus ( 'liti- ful1 - In 1810 > tbe $rs1 sta S e route froln 

pin, Moses Atwater and Phineas P. Bates, Albany west was laid out. Canondaigua 

Trustees. was the end of the road. In 18,16 an op- 



1876. HISTORY OF CAN ANDAIGUA., 11 

position line was established by S&nme[ they stood, growing as with one body — 

Greenleaf and others. Before this new waxing strong as with one pulse. 

line the time table was as follows: Leave Incomplete and unworthy would' be a 

New York Monday evening, and arrive at history of Canandaigua, did we fail to lin- 

Albany the next noon ; then to Schenecta- ger about these foot-prints in the sand made 

dy and sleep; Wednesday to LFtica and by the feet of those who never more may 

sleep; then to Skaneateles for over night; walk these streets, nor give nor take a 

and Friday P. M. reach Oanaddaigua, greeting. 

where the stage remained until the follow- Oliver Phelps was born in Windsor, 

ing Monday. Conn., in the year 1749, and received so 

From 1816 to 1840, Mr. Greenleaf as one much of an education as the limited oppor- 

of the company, had about 400 stage.-, on tunities of the time afforded. He was a 

the road, and 'from here to Geneva, had stirring, active and energetic man and pat- 

sixteen (16) four horse teams constantly in riot. Being engaged in the Revolutionary 

harness. The opposition line shortened outbreak at Lexington, he was afterwards 

up this time somewhat, so that these sta Commissary in the army, and was actively 

ges took passengers safely to Albany in employed during the entire war. It was 

two and a half days, and could regularly m this way that he became intimately ac- 

land you in New York in four, provided quainted with Robert Morris, and through 

there were no detentions. llim was attracted by the beauties of this 

„,. ., . , , 100 „ western country, which resulted in the 

The railways constructed here in lboo- J 

40, superseded the yellow thorough-braced „ ' " , , 

, , "'- I,! The village grew and prospered, and 

coach, and carry thousands through our . , ... : i ■ ' ., ^ . 

,. . , , , ,.",. with such prosperity came to him the first 

limits to where there was one in the olden T , , . „ f, „ 

. , . Judgeship of the county; then a seat in 

days. But they lack the busy air the _, , . . „ . ., . , , 

, , , , . ,.,,.,. Congress, but neither of these honorable 

coaches had, and their whistle .shriek is . . , ■ , , . „ ,, „ ... „ , 

. ... positions changed him from the faithful, 

but a poor substitute ior the horn, which ... , , . ... , 

quiet citizen, and as such he will ever lie 
lew ol us rememoer. , . 

remembered. 

The plank road to Palmyra, built in '46, Nathaniel Goiuiam, the associate of 
became a smooth road to penury, and with M] . phe , ps in th(1 p UrchaBe> was never in 
theElmira and Niagara Falls Railways this place, but was represented in all his 
proved of no benefit to the stock-holders. interests Dy h j s son> Nathaniel Goriiam. 
The first steamer, "Lady of the Lake," j r> w ho in 1789, being then in his 26th 
was not a profitable investment. She has year> came on herej an( j i n the full strength 
been followed, however, by four others, f practical intelligence and vigorous man- 
which have finally demonstrated the fact hood, co-operated with Mr. Phelps in the 
that bread pays when "cast upon the wa- development of their large; possessions.— 
fers -" Mr. Gorham died in October, 1826, and it 

As in a stream, the barriers removed, the was fitly said of him at the time, " in him 
first Avaves of the freed current roll the we have lost a friend indeed; we know not 
highest, so in the tide of emigration, the that he had an enemy; we are sure he was 
early comers here were men of sturdy, an enemy to none." 

sterling worth. There was too much dan- It is a matter of deep regret that in the 
ger in their lives for littleness: too much record of Gen. Israel Chapin so few spe- 
to be done for intrigue; no time for schem ciflc items are to be found, for no one — not 
ing, nor hearts for fraud; but knit and even the purchasers themselves— was more 
bound so closely to each other by kindred directly identified with the settlement of 
cares and hopes and common interest, western New York than he. His position 
that the pleasure lay in giving comfort to and character were such that perhaps that 
each other and in defrauding none. Shoul- fact alone made no one think a biographer 
der to shoulder, weeks, months and years or eulogist necessary. We only find that, 



12 HISTORY OF CANANDAIGl A. Jury 4, 

horn in Hatfield, Mass., in 1741, he be- family to a township near, EJraifa. While 
came at the first Revolutionary outbreak, he and his father were assisting some new 
a Captain in the earliest militia organiza- comers in their approach to the settlement, 
tions of his native ^late, rising to the rank they were surprised and captured by Indi 
of Colonel, and, at the close of the war ans. The father was retained in captivity 
was serving as Brigadier General. Coming about five years, but the son was not re- 
to this place alone in 1789, he removed his stored to his people until the treaty at Fort 
family here in 1790; was made General Stanwix, during which time he had nearly 
Agent among the Six Nations by Gen. forgotten his own language, but in place 
Knox, Secretary of War, and thereafter had acquired that of the Indians so entire- 
was the main dependence of the settlement ly that after the Pickering Treat}' he was 
for preserving peace, not only between the made, at their request, Indian Agent for 
white and red man, but among the Indians the Indians, and was in frequent confer- 
themselves, a task which the introduction ence here with Gen. Chapin, who was ln- 
of "fire water " made extremely difficult dian Agent for the Government. By the 
and hazardous. At the Pickering Treaty wise and just management, by these two 
in 1794 General Chapin contracted a dis- agents, of all the delicate questions which 
ease which ended with his death the fol- arose between the white and red men, all 
lowing year. At his burial, which was at- trouble was avoided, however imminent it 
tended by all who could get here, Red may have been at times; and Mr. Parrish 
Jacket, unable even as an Indian to re- lived and died respected and beloved by 
strain his tears, said: — both races. Indeed by the Indians theni- 

" Brothers! We have lost a good friend, selves his memory has been handed down 

The Six Nations weep with the United to the few Iroquois left, who yearly visit 

States. The chain of friendship which he his descendants as though with a right to 

made between us and our white brothers, sit at his fireside, 
we must ever keep bright, In May, 1796, Nathaniel W. Howell, 

"Brothers! It is a custom among us bringing his library in his saddle bags, rode 

when a great chief dies to drop a belt up this street and first saw his future home, 

where he has sat. We have lost so many Born in 1770; graduated from Princton in 

warriors that our belts are few, but we 1787; teaching school for three years, he 

give you the blackened wampum. studied law with .Judge Hoffman in the 

" Brothers! It is another custom with city of New York, and was licensed to 

our people to visit the sleeping ground of practice in 1794. He established himself 

our dead, and cover it with leaves and in Tioga county in 1795, but being called 

(lowers. This we will do for him, for we by his professional duties to this place, he 

loved him." was so much inspired with its beauty of 

And thai was the first Decoration Day location and the fair promise of what was 

in Canandaigua. yet to be, that he determined to settle here, 

Jasper Parrish undoubtedly endured becoming at once the counsel and attorney 
more hardship and dangers than any of of Charles Williamson, the agent of the 
the early settlers here, but these very trials Pulteney estate, then residing at Bath, at 
made him the more useful to his fellow that time in this county. From 1799 to 
townsmen, rendering him even of greater 1802, he was Attorney-General for the five 
service to them than Gen. Chapin himself, western counties of this state; was elected 
His long captivity among the Indians ena to the Legislature, and in '13-'14 to Con- 
bled him not only to master their language gress. In 1819 he was appointed County 
and dialects, but as intimately to learn Judge, which office he held for thirteen 
all their customs as any one of them- years. 

selves. He was born in Windham, Conn., Intimately associated with Judge How- 

in March, 1767, and as a child had been kll, first as student, then partner, always 

taken by his father with the rest of the as friend, was John Gkkio. Their lives 



1876. HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 13 

here among us lay nearly together— nor in gaed in business connected with the Phelps 
death were they long divided. Mr. Greig and Gorham purchase. He was an advo- 
was born at Moffat, Scotland, August 6, cate for internal improvement, and gave 
1776. His father was a writer to the Sig- a large tract of land for the Erie ca- 
net, and factor or agent to Lord Hopetown; nal. A most fluent writer and of distin- 
himself educated at the Edinburgh Univer- guished talents. He died in 1822." 
sit \, he came to New York in December, Henry B. Gibson, whose name for 
1799, and to Canandaigua in 1800. Retir- years was but another word for unshaken 
ing from the partnership with Judge How- and unshakable integrity and business abil- 
ell, he became an agent of many foreign ity, came to this place in 1821, being call- 
capitalists, and, by a most judicious man- ed here by the stock-holders of the Ontario 
agement of their business, materially in- Bank, the affairs of which institution 
creased the value of their interests, and were in considerable trouble at that time, 
laid the foundation of his own abundant Previous to this, leaving his native 
fortune. His marriage with the daughter place, Reading, Penn., he had at one time 
of Capt. Israel Chapin, a son of the Gener- been the senior partner of the firm of Gib- 
al, in 1806, bound him forever with the son & Sherman in New York City; at an - 
interests and prosperity of the village, other attached to a bank in Utica; and at 
which was always most liberally cared for the time of his leaving the city, was in the 
until his death on the 9th of April, 1858. Manhattan Bank. It did not require a 

Among the earliest comers to this place lengthened period for Mr. Gibson to in- 
was Thomas Beals, whose lojig life of still new strength and vigor into the feeble 
business activity left so many monuments life of his charge here, which healthy tone 
to his worth, that his memory is of the passed out into all the affairs of the com- 
freshest in our minds. Born in Boston, he munity, and revived into increasing ac- 
came to this place in 1803. At the early tivity the business relations and combina- 
age of 20, teaching in the Academy he gave tions of the village, until this place became 
shape and aim to a future of prosperity to noted throughout the state for its wealth 
the institution, which has been most fully and prosperity. To him do we owe this, 
realized. Attaching himself, in the course and we sorely realized it at his death. 
of a few years to the Savings Bank, he Canandaigua ought to, and I am sure 
was forever after most intimately identifi- does, love the memory of William Wood. 
ed with the business prosperity of the vil- Others perhaps gave her a name and exist 
lage, and as much as any other expended ence, but he, in his quaint odd way, was 
time and money in the embellishment and ever adding some touch of beauty or charm 
decoration of our streets. He gave his of shape to her comeliness, which we see 
personal attention to the building of our to-day turn where we will. The witnesses 
Alms and County House, and in a silent of what he was to her and us, are hanging 
way, peculiarly his own, did kindly acts in our Court House ; along our streets ; in 
for the needy poor and destitute. our Jail and County House; and, better 

As facts of history at all times, and just- still, in the hearts of the poor. Grateful 
ly, outweigh personal modesty, it is proper flowers for the sick, food for the hungry, 
that the name of Gideon Granger should warmth for the poor, came from uuder the 
till its place ia our memory. I quote di- old blue cloak, beneath which beat a heart 
rectly from the record: " Gideon Gran- as gentle and as loving as a woman's. The 
ger was born in Suffield, Conn., in 1767; very stones of the street he washed that 
and graduated at Yale College in 1787. He they might look better to us; and the trees 
studied law and rose to eminence in his for his sake to-day give us shade. That 
profession; was appointed Postmaster- man is happy indeed, and worthy indeed, 
General in 1801, which position he held where even the stones praise him and the 
until 1814. In that year he moved to Can- trees rock prouder in his honor, 
andaigua, where he was professionally en- William Wood was born in Charles- 



14 HISTORY OF OANANDAKU A. July 4 

town, Mass., in 1777, and there received a er Peter B., earning not less his spotles^ 

liberal education. At 20 he went to Liv- record here, but so much surpassing it by 

erpool, attached to a mercantile house. — his future daring and ability, that we for- 

Business complications compelled his re- get what he was to us in his splendid ser-. 

turn after a brief absence, when lie first vices lo the nation. 

visited this place, which became his home Further down in time we come to men 

in 1826. He employed himself in the es- whose names arestm more f re slily spoken; 

tablishing of libraries for young men. The whose faces we have , ived t() gee , The 

number of these cannot now be ascertain- grass which here is wom so smooth by 

ed, but he said himself: " In 1819, I com- bu8y feet> in but a step to yonder yard> 

menced gathering books for the Merchants swaya in a mournfu i mono tone above the 

and Mechanics' Library in Boston; then in ]nen who knew these streets Sf) vve]1 _ 

New York, Albany and Philadelphia; af- Jared Willson with his wealth of humor, 

forwards by correspondence in New Or- his mind so ful] f everything attractive; 

leans. I also sent libraries to Louisville, m ark H . Sibley, warm to evervkinde.no 

Cincinnati and Wheeling. I have had tion> carrying the same great force of ar 

the pleasure to establish libraries all the gument in other walks beside the lawyers: 

way from New Orleans to Montreal." He Alvah Worden, keen and critical in 

next introduced them on vessels on the every nice distinction, as close and sure in 

Hudson; then on our merchantmen, and every earnest friendship as in legal points ; 

finally on our ships of war, the " Frank- Walter Hubbell, hiding mines of hard 

lin " taking the first library of about 2,50(J earned loVe beneath a perfect piety. The 

volumes. The Mercantile Library of the brothers Granger, who knew them best, 

city of New York is a child of his, and to- loved most. 

day has over 150,000 volumes. A , „„„ * „ ., f . , , 

J As one by one these forest elms and 

By his advice our broad sidewalks were oaks they loved have fallen, these men 

laid out, and our shade trees planted. — have fallen too. The lines which mark 

Lawns and winding paths were marked our gardens and our lawns, to them were 

and trimmed out into shape; all which all unknown, or only blazed upon the rag 

would tend to the future beauty of our ged bark of trees; our roads and walks 

homes was suggested to us, and even some- were trails which reached out into bound- 

imes done without our knowledge. He less solitude or led from one small clearing 

lived not really when he lived, nor died to another; our Sunday bells had never 

when he was dead, but labored hard for startled echos from the woods; undreamed 

years he could not see, and seasons with of was the roll of a train or shriek of a 

him absent. There is no need of epitaph steamer; and yet alone, in all this mighty 

from us, nor chiseled urn nor marble, wilderness, they reached a greatness which 

His memory freshens with the leaves he it is our aim not to excel, but gain, and 

loved; grows brighter with their turning, left behind them names and fame so dear 

There is no winter in his memory, for the and treasured that where the limit of their 

snows press gently on the good old man, symmetry began and where left off, we do 

whose record is as spotless as their white- not try to know. 

ness, and hearts are warm toward him. A . , , . . . _ , . 

As an industrious maiden, our ( anandai- 

These men were not alone in all their gua was never remarkable. She was now 
labors, nor on them alone did every honor grown to be very pleasing to the eye, and 
fall. Thomas Morris came to share the very kind at heart, but there were lacking 
one, and worthily wore the other. Auous- the physical att ibutesin the shape of pow 
jus Porter surveyed and resurve3 r cd this er, mines and minerals, which were essen- 
wilderness, enduring from his very occupa- tial to the establishing of those industries, 
tion, weariness and danger which few, which, had the case been different, would 
even of his friends, suspected. His broth- have caused a more rapid growth. Large 



1876. HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 15 

fortunes have been made here under her than our's wull yearly fling some fragrance 
very eye, it is true, but they are the excep- on the mound, if only daisies or a clover 
tion, and it shows what a gentle, impartial top, to mark the spot where the Red Hand 
mother she has been, that wealth has been stopped them and kept them from their 
so evenly distributed among lier children, Home. 

and envy never in her household: Her la- Other sons she had, our older brothers, 
bors have been rather devoted to doing so worthy of our love, well nigh all passed 
good, and so she caused it that from out away. We know the names they bore, 
one household, from beside one tire, as the and hear the names they left, but only 
Senecas would have said, came both Brig- rarely can we mark a halting tread which 
ham Hall for the insane and the Asylum tells us one is here. For like that old oak 
for the Orphans, and we know how Can- yonder, which knew them well, they're 
andaigua bowed her head in anguish when almost gone and only here and there a leaf 
the frenzied hand of madness left only one still clings along the parent stem. Long 
beside that fire, and she a mourner. The years ago, when they and it were in their 
Asylum for the insane w;?s founded by Dr. prime, it cast a friendly shade upon their 
George Cook, and incorporated in 1859, gatherings. But now it only stretches 
and has ever since afforded home and palsied arms above us here, and throws 
kindness to those so sorely afflicted. The naught but a benison from off its wasted 
Ontario County Orphan Asylum, incorpo- lingers. 

rated under special act of '63, has prosper- This is but a fragment of the history of 
ed beyond the hopes of any of its found- our mother — too poorly rendered at the 
ers; full to overflowing with those who best, and full of faults— but not from want 
need its help, and well nijh as full of those of any love to her. She came a little 
who offer it thing, in far off years, and, cradled first 

Since 1860, the history of our mother upon our lake, she turned her feeble steps 
Canandaigua, already mature and mairon- toward the north. Groping her way through 
ly. is too fresh in our minds to need more forest shades, she grew and strength- 
than passing mention. From 106 in 1790, ened daily, until, still pressing on, she 
she has become 7,799. From $500 taxes, pushed the trees aside and left our streets 
she this year levied $20,775, and last year in all their beauty. She set up hearth 
more. From land at 18c an acre, she stones here and there, and they in turn 
holds it cheap at $'200; from venison in the reared others. She beckoned to her kins- 
j woods, "the cattle on a thousand hills" men at the east, and they came on and 
I. are her's; from maize and corn for home, made their fires here. She grew to woman- 
she flings her seeds out from her generous hood, and stood erect in all the symmetry 
hands as though to plant a universe; of her fair proportions. She reached out 
from calling help to Macedonia, from further in the forest, and blessed the seed 
Macedonia she goes out and gives her thou- with bounteous harvests, waving her yel- 
sands to the needy. low hair in the summer's breeze in exulta- 

There came a time when she was old, tion at her victory. She's now grown old, 
although she's older now, when Sumter's but never locks of gray will frost her 
gun awoke her from her sleep, and then brow, save when the winter's breath shall 
she raised her bands and said: " My chil- chill Ante blood — nor feebleness show in 
dren, go!" And you, her sons, went (nil. her tread save when she holds some wan- 
Some who went are here to-day, and some derer. Year after year when she shall see 

. The flowers are hardly withered a tired child of hers lie down to take a 

yet which you, -with pious care have laid dreamless sleep — as all must do as time 
upon a comrade's grave, and when those goes on — she takes I lie weary son within 
leaves do fade, their perfume seeks the her arms, and holds him there forever. — 
skies. And some there were who fell and We all have loved ones pillowed there to- 
lie, we know not where. A Gentler Hand day. And when our own time comes and 



16 HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. .July 4, 

we, worn with our marching through the found, a sleep of rest, a rest of perfect 
dust and heat of time, fall from the ranks, peace, once more upon the bosom of our 
to leave our sons advancing still, then we Mother, 
in turn will find, as surely as our father's 







THE HISTORY OF CANANDAIGUA. 



AN 



ADDRESS 



DELIVERED AT THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



Jixl^r 4 3 1876. 



BY J. ALBERT GRANGER, Esq. 



CANANDAIGUA, N. Y. 

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE ONTARIO REPOSITORY AM.) MESSENGER. 

1876. 



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OCT. 68 

Km 

'^^ N. MANCHESTER. 
; ^T INDIANA 



$*+„ 



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■^ 



V 






a* y*M. 



